Inspira Advantage recently interviewed Father Dan Storrs, the President at Endless Mountains Pride. Learn how our med school admissions consulting services can help you gain admission to medical school today.
What makes the work at Endless Mountains Pride unique in advancing LGBTQ health and equity?
Endless Mountains Pride is shaped by the realities of rural life in Bradford and Sullivan Counties, where LGBTQ+ people often lack visible support and may feel unsure about where to find affirming care. Our work is unique because we create welcoming, accessible spaces in communities where many assume such supports are limited. We bring celebration, connection, and wellbeing together so LGBTQ+ people in our valleys and small towns can live openly, safely, and with dignity.
Our approach is grounded in strong community relationships. Many of our board and planning members serve with regional coalitions such as United Way of Bradford County, Bradford County Human Services, the Bradford and Sullivan County Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Bradford County Library System, the Towanda Area Clergy Association, and the Bradford County Regional Arts Council. This involvement positions Endless Mountains Pride as a trusted bridge between LGBTQ+ residents and the institutions that serve them. As president, I guide this work with a pastoral and trauma-informed perspective that honors physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health.
A defining strength of our work is the intentional way we bring supportive organizations into LGBTQ+ spaces. At our Pride Festival, we welcome partners such as Guthrie, Northern Tier Counseling, The Children’s House Child Advocacy Center, the Abuse and Rape Crisis Center, Futures Community Support, the IAM Center for Creative Healing, and Adelphoi Foster and Adoption Services, along with affirming congregations. Meeting these providers in an affirming environment helps LGBTQ+ people connect with care that feels safe and respectful. This blend of rural context, trusted leadership, and purposeful partnership makes Endless Mountains Pride’s contribution to health and equity genuinely distinctive.
What are some of your recent initiatives that have contributed to more inclusive healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community?
One major initiative has been transforming our Pride Festival into a meaningful access point for support and health information. By bringing agencies such as Guthrie, Northern Tier Counseling, The Children’s House, the Abuse and Rape Crisis Center, Futures Community Support, the IAM Center for Creative Healing, and Adelphoi Foster and Adoption Services into the festival environment, LGBTQ+ residents can speak directly with providers, learn about services, and ask questions in a setting that feels safe and welcoming. Guthrie’s presence is particularly significant because it signals public commitment from a major regional healthcare system.
Our collaboration with Guthrie has continued beyond the festival. Endless Mountains Pride board members, community members, and Guthrie staff gathered for an LGBTQIA+ and Straight Allies Mixer at The Grille at the Train Station in Sayre. This event created space for residents to share experiences, discuss healthcare access, and build relationships with current and future medical professionals in a relaxed environment.
We have also worked to expand access to spiritual care for LGBTQ+ patients within the Guthrie system by developing a list of local LGBTQ affirming clergy. This ensures that when patients request spiritual support, they are connected with ministers who will respect and affirm their identity during moments of crisis, serious diagnosis, or end of life.
Our Pride Proclamation at the Bradford County Courthouse and the free community lunch hosted at the OneWell Health building have further increased visibility, reduced stigma, and fostered community connection around health and belonging. In addition, our online resource directory highlights supports such as 988, The Trevor Project, local mental health services, and regional advocacy partners, helping LGBTQ+ residents access inclusive care year round.
What lessons or qualities should future doctors and healthcare leaders develop if they want to provide more inclusive care?
Future doctors and healthcare leaders need a posture of humility and attentive listening. Many LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced harm or dismissal in clinical settings. When providers approach patients with respect, openness, and a willingness to learn, that alone fosters trust and healing.
They should also understand that LGBTQ+ health is an essential component of competent practice. This includes knowledge of sexual and gender diversity, an understanding of how discrimination influences health outcomes, and familiarity with gender affirming care, inclusive communication, and diverse family structures. Practical skills such as correct name and pronoun usage, accessible intake processes, and welcoming clinic design communicate belonging before clinical care even begins.
Effective leaders must also value collaboration. Partnering with community organizations such as Endless Mountains Pride, local counseling centers, crisis support agencies, and affirming faith communities gives providers insight into the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people. These partnerships create trusted referral pathways and deepen understanding of the barriers residents encounter beyond the clinic.
Finally, inclusive care requires moral courage. Providers must be willing to challenge policies or behaviors that marginalize LGBTQ+ patients and consistently advocate for environments where every person is treated with respect. When future healthcare leaders combine humility, solid knowledge, a collaborative spirit, and courage, they help build a system where LGBTQ+ people are not only acknowledged but genuinely valued and well cared for.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Father Dan Storrs to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.
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